I am in the process right now. So far the directiona very good and precise. I am really taking my time so that I make it right. I have completed the loco upgrade and tested it. Awesome! I am now attempting to locate a connection point to the handrails for the antenna rather than running a tether. I let you all know how this goes. I am taking photos as I go.
A minor setback. Seem contrary to what I thought I heard the handrails are electrically attached to the shell. I am checking out some other possiblities before wiring the tether. Stay tuned.
Just an update. The PE does not lend itself well for rigging the handrails for the antenna…at least not mine and I assume they are all the same. Where they enter the shell near the front of the engine they actuall contact the boiler. There is no insulating device there. I made severals attempt at using other antenna ideas and none worked well. I could only get marginal results at best.
At this point I will add the tether when Jon can get it out to me. He had so much faith that I could sove the handrail issue that he left it out of my kit. I appreciate his faith. That being said though after testing the PE with the Mini Cruise Unit all I can say is WOW! The board is a gem even if I need a tether. The slow speed is great and the fact that there was only the board to install (no tach sensor or other feedback device) was great.
It’s a tight fit but following the instructions carefully it went together nicely. Jon has produced a real winner here. I’m going to post some pics after I get the tether and show the complete installation and give a full review but my initial impressions are very positive.
Thanks Jon!
just an idea, but can’t you stick the antenna on the underside of the shell? or is the metal shell blocking the signals? (just a few pieces of double stick tape?)
You could also opt to completely remove the handrails and put shrink tube around it, drill the holes a bit bigger where it enteres the shell and spread the lugs on the boiler a bit. I don’t know if there excists something like clear shrink tube, but you could probably paint it afterwards…
Or change both wire handrails into a silver isolated electric wire with a solid core. It’s a bit weaker than steel handrails, but you can keep the whole stuff in the locomotive without tether.
I tied different antennas like you mentioned and it’s no go. As far as the handrails go I was intent on trying to use them but am not inclined to go to such extremes. They are attached pretty well inside the boiler by a bend which seems pretty intent on staying in there.
Marty, is there a sound kit to go with the upgrade? Since you have to go to the tender, would be nice to put speaker and sound in it. I will be watching for the photos.
I didn’t ask but Jin seems to have a lot of cool stuff on his site. I think if the sound could be tweeked to the PE I might shoot for it but for now I am just doing the basic upgrade.
Marty,
I just saw this movie for the first time after Christmas… wife bought the DVD for me.
While I was watching the film I couldn’t help but wish Lionel would make a PE Specific Sound System and include the TMCC and Odyssey systems! Would also have been cool if the Hot Chocolate Car would play some of the music from the film as well. I’m sure this was not done due to licensing reasons, but wouldn’t that have been one nice set!?! I would have been willing to pay an additional $150 for the set to get the PE Sounds, TMCC, and Odyssey add-ons, and would be willing to fork out the standard $249 for a Station Sounds Hot Chocolate car that played the music and the Station Sounds.
Hmmm… maybe an email to Lionel would be inorder!
Any chance of just coating the antenna with clear acrylic (nail polish) where it enters the shell or makes contact with the boiler mount grabs? If you can “float” the entire casting you will have an incredible antenna.
Chuck
I thought about that but the handrails are pretty tight into the shell. I suspect that the clear coating could wear of even if teh rail is moved a bit. The hole is just a tad bigger than the rail. Also while trying to bend the rail a bit from the inside to attach the antenna it was very hard and would not bend. I think getting it out of the boiler to perform a coating could do more harm than good.
Is there any room under the running board to hide a small (aka 24 gauge) black coated braided wire, one on each side?
If an antenna under the locomotive shell isn’t working, I’m afraid of the tender as a place for the antenna. I don’t know if the polar express set also has a diecast tender, but if it has, it will also shield the antenna signal from the antenna… You need a place on the outside of the shell or somewhere where the shell is plastic… Under the running boards is absolutely not a bad idea either!
Licensing reasons… mmmmh, as far as I know Lionel obviously had a big finger in the porridge when making that movie. On the end even a train with “lionel lines” comes right in front of the camera… May be they simply didn’t thought about it, or it became too expensive. But I also heard that they needed to change the logo’s on the sides of the train because of licensing reasons… stupid!
Marty,
Sounds like a great project. I look forward to seeing the pics. Does the Polar Express loco have a pull rope to the bell? Maybe a small black wire could be put in to simulate a rope and act as an antenna?
Have fun with it.
Tim
Chuck I’ll look into that tonight. Looking at it quickly that maybe an idea.
The tender has a plastic shell and the upgrade actually recomends this instalation there.
Metal shell tenders are prety easy to isolate, plastic screws and black tape around the frame will float the shell. These make great antennas after they are isolated.
Nylon washers could be used to achieve the same effect. One between the shell and frame, and one between the frame and screw. You would still need the electrical tape around the frame edge to isolate the shell sides from the frame edge.
The wire under the running boards are a bust. I guess just too close to the shell. Very poor signal. I don’t want to go to the extreme to isolate the shell so my next step is the antenna in the tender route. I’ll continue to examine alt antenna placement but for now will follow Jon’s instructions.
Just for grins, try taking the wire and just tape it alongside the boiler casting about the height of the hand rails. This is close to the optimum height for signal. The radio signal would look like a large sausage casing (think salami sized) about 4 inches in diameter with the track at the center. The running boards may be too low and shielded by the “shelf” the running boards form. I’m afraid the tender may be the best bet.
Chuck I have layed the antenna via a insulated wire along the handrails and all works fine. I believe you are right and I have already asked Jon for the tether parts. This is the way he has the sytem layed out. I thought I may have been able to work around it. I applaud him for his patience. Still the upgrade is so far before the tender is moded a 100% sucess. The PE is cruising smooth!